Cadmean Cad*me"an (k[a^]d*m[=e]"an), a. [L. Cadmeus, Gr.
Kadmei^os, from Ka`dmos (L. Cadmus), which name perhaps means
lit. a man from the East; cf. Heb. qedem east.]
Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who
was said to have introduced into Greece the sixteen simple
letters of the alphabet -- [alpha], [beta], [gamma], [delta],
[epsilon], [iota], [kappa], [lambda], [mu], [nu], [omicron],
[pi], [rho], [sigma], [tau], [upsilon]. These are called
Cadmean letters.
[1913 Webster]

{Cadmean victory}, a victory that damages the victors as much
as the vanquished; probablyreferring to the battle in
which the soldiers who sprang from the dragon's teeth sown
by Cadmus slew each other. Similar to a {Pyhrric victory}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]

Look at other dictionaries:

Cadmean victory — c.1600, from Gk. Kadmeia nike victory involving one s own ruin [Liddell & Scott], from Cadmus (Gk. Kadmos), legendary founder of Thebes in Boeotia and bringer of the alphabet to Greece. Probably a reference to the story of Cadmus and the Sown Men … Etymology dictionary

Cadmean victory — n. a victory won with great losses to the victors: see CADMUS … English World dictionary

Cadmean victory — A Cadmean victory, from the Greek Kadmeia nike , is a reference to a victory involving one s own ruin [Liddell Scott] , from Cadmus (Greek Kadmos ), the legendary founder of Thebes in Boeotia and the mythic bringer of the alphabet to Greece.… … Wikipedia

Cadmean victory — a victory attained at as great a loss to the victor as to the vanquished. Cf. Pyrrhic victory. [1595 1605] * * * … Universalium

Cadmean victory — One that leaves the victor ruined. See also Pyrrhic victory … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

Cadmean — Cad*me an (k[a^]d*m[=e] an), a. [L. Cadmeus, Gr. Kadmei^os, from Ka dmos (L. Cadmus), which name perhaps means lit. a man from the East; cf. Heb. qedem east.] Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who was said to have… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Pyrrhic victory — a victory or goal achieved at too great a cost. Cf. Cadmean victory. [1880 85; < Gk Pyrrikós; after a remark attributed by Plutarch to PYRRHUS, who declared, after a costly victory over the Romans, that another similar victory would ruin him] * * … Universalium

Snake — Ophidian redirects here. For the professional wrestler, see The Osirian Portal. This article is about the animal. For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). Snakes Temporal range: Early Cretaceous – Recent, 112–0 Ma … Wikipedia